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Sunday, January 01, 2006
Rediscovering Paradise
By Carlos R. Munda, Jr.
THE hype surrounding a handful of well-known dive sites in the Philippines might make one think that the dive-and-see-a-shark model is the only way for a diving destination to gain recognition in the industry. But for every Tubataha, scores of other places offer spectacular underwater experiences at a fraction of the cost--places which choose to perfect their scuba offerings in the shadows, letting their reputation among a handful of enthusiasts spread the word and attract the right kind of clientele.
In the Davao Gulf--which as a whole is also one of the diving world's best-kept secrets--there is Paradise. Located just a few minutes boat ride from Davao City, Paradise Island Resort offers the kind of diving that people in Manila travel hours for to enjoy. Unfortunately, while out-of-town divers find the sights of Paradise well worth the trip, many of the locals are skipping diving there in favor of sites further and further afield.
Perhaps it is because places on the Davao Oriental side of Samal Island, like Ligid, Aundanao and Tagbabao offer the possibility of sighting those big schools of fishes or maybe it's the travel and the getting-away-from-it-all feeling, I honestly don't know--whatever it is, many of our local divers are drawn there.
Personally though, I find Paradise one of the best dive sites in the Gulf. For one it is certainly the most accessible, and with the recent opening of their aquasport facilities center, diving there has never been easier. The concession is run by Wind and Wave, which is the only Professional Association of Dive Instructors (Padi) accredited dive center in Davao, and they offer a full range of dive experiences--from intro diving to full scuba courses--all in the convenience of one of the region's best resorts.
Aside from the logistics, Paradise is also blessed with one of the most diverse underwater seascapes of any resort in Samal. This of course means that there are also different kinds of critters living beneath the waves just off its famed pennon-lined jetties. During a recent dive and photography trip there with good friend, Stella Estremera, we were able to experience this to the fullest.
During our first dive--which lasted close to an hour and thirty minutes--we were able to spot a Halimeda ghost pipefish in the sandy area at the beginning of the dive, several species of nudebranchs and sea slugs, glass shrimps living among the corals--plus the usual complement of fish, fish and even more fish.
The highlight of that dive was the pipefish, which at first glance looks like a piece of seagrass drifting close to the bottom. It isn't easy to spot, but it's a great photo subject once you do find it.
The second dive--which came after a sumptuous (and overly generous) lunch courtesy of the Paradise management--began a bit more harried than the first. For one the current picked up a bit making the dive trickier. Aside from complicating the dive plan, the current also played havoc with the visibility by churning up the sand.
Despite this however we were still able to spot quite a lot of worthy subjects--including a seahorse resting on the seagrass, a camera conscious nudebranch that seemed to delight in posing for the camera, a plate-sized flatfish, a couple of bashful filefishes and of course clown and damsel fish galore.
Those dives for me say a lot about Paradise and define its allure. That while on any given day the potential for a great dive is there, it isn't always possible to go to Ligid or Aundanao--but it is always easy to go to Paradise.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (January 1, 2006 issue)
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